The 5 Surprising Must Haves That Today’s Travelers Require

I think we all like to travel. While choosing a destination is often the easy part of the journey. Choosing where to stay is a little more difficult. The old adage location, location, location, certainly comes to mind. Once you've found that location what else is really important to you when you travel? I was surprised to see what topped a list of must haves in a recent Traveladvisor.com survey.

1

In Room Wi-Fi

For a lot of travelers, they want that connection to research their current destination, make reservations and book tours, and be able to show off their trip on social media. A lot more hotels and resorts are offering free in-room Wi-Fi as an amenity because more and more travelers are considering this feature when they book where they choose to stay.

feedough, ThinkStock

2

Air-Conditioning

When I was a kid back in the days before DVD players in the car we'd often stay a places that offered "air cooled" rooms. There's a big difference between air conditioned and air cooled. A lot of destinations in Europe and Asia don't have air conditioning. The truth is most of the climates in those destinations don't require it. Still, if it gets hot and you can't open a window, you'll wish you had the AC as an option.

Comstock, ThinkStock

3

In Room Coffee/Tea

Personally, I find most in-room coffee makers to be less than good when it comes to a strong cup of coffee. I'd almost rather take the coffee pouch and put it between my cheek and gum like smokeless tobacco. Still, the need for a cup of Joe or a hot cup of tea is a major determining factor in choosing a place to stay. In Austrailia, in-room tea was more important than a television.

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

4

Swimming Pool

After a day of sightseeing, there is nothing more refreshing than a nice dip a clean well-maintained swimming pool. For me,there is a lot of emphasis on the clean and well-maintained aspect of a hotel pool. For many people,even if they are traveling to a beach destination, a pool is near the top of the list of amenities. We like that little bit of luxury in our travels and since many of us don't have a pool at home, a pool on vacation is a must.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

5

Ironing Board and Iron

This one really surprised me. It does make sense for those that have to travel for business. However, on vacation, the only time I want to have anything pressed is when I am having a massage. The fact is that most people,as part of their travels, want to have one night that isn't casual. That requires a certain decorum and quality of appearance and being able to press out the wrinkles of a carry-on bag certainly come in handy.

John Welford via YouTube

A Few Other Items That Made The List

Parking, breakfast, room service, and an in-room safe were other considerations that many travelers had when choosing lodging for their trip. Another trend among travelers is the need to pack certain amenities from home instead of using those provided by the hotel. Among those items were pillows and towels.